President Afghanistan
1,500 Spanish soldiers are currently in the country. The gradual redeployment will begin in the first quarter of 2012. Chacon advanced on Wednesday that this summer will begin the phased transfer of authority to Afghan security forces. Spain shall withdraw all troops which has in Afghanistan in 2014, according to the President of the Government, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced this Friday. The j of the Executive announced at the press conference after the European Council in Brussels, in which explained that the gradual withdrawal of the 1,500 soldiers who are currently in Afghanistan will begin in the first half of 2012. In this period, will leave around ten percent of the quota. On Wednesday, Minister of Dnsa, Carme Chacon, advanced from this summer will begin the transfer of authority to Afghan security forces in Herat province, which the Spanish contingent working in that area – approximately 500 ctive-will bring together with the deployed in the province of Badghis, composed around thousand soldiers. The intention is that as Afghan military and police are assuming responsibilities in the field of security, the troops come out of the country.
In the first half of 2013, will they withdraw up to 40% of the soldiers, and by 2014 it will no longer be Spanish military presence in Afghanistan, added Zapatero. That would be the plan, I insist, taking into account the changing circumstances, but the plan is well advanced in those terms, it added. Adjusting to the time limits of the NATO announcement of the withdrawal plan fits, according to the Executive, the deadlines set by NATO at its last Summit, held in Lisbon last November. The Spanish withdrawal plan is known once the President of the United States, Barack Obama, announced last Wednesday that this year 10,000 U.S. soldiers return from Afghanistan and that for September 2012 will have left this country 33,000 military. The authorised representative French, Nicolas Sarkozy, also reported on Thursday that his country retract his troops in a proportional manner and with a calendar comparable to the United States, in consultation with other allies and with Afghan authorities. Source of the news: Zapatero announces that Spain will completely withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in 2014